My family interview

MY FAMILY INTERVIEWRyan Raczok

PHYLLIS MARTINEZFor my interviewee, I chose my grandmother. Phyllis was born in Pasadena, CA and has lived here for more than 80 years.

MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS:

• My great grandparents were born in Guadalajara, Mexico and moved to Pasadena in 1910.

• Like most people of their generation, they immigrated for a better life.

• My great grandpa was a Gardner for the Huntington Library

• They rented a house on Orange Grove Ave.

• (Picture of Orange Grove, 1900’s)

HUNTINGTON LIBRARY

CATHOLICISM

• To my grandparents and their parents before them, Religion was very important to them.

• They grew up going to Sunday Mass every week, with the entire family.

• Their family Parish was St. Andrews in Pasadena, CA.

• When they attended mass at St. Andrews, it was in Latin.

• (Picture: St. Andrews Catholic church)

THE FAMILY

FAMILY TRADITIONS

NEW YEARS EVEOn New Years Eve my Great Grandparents and my Grandparents would make homemade Tamales. The boys would also sell them at the Rose Parade to make extra money.

CHRISTMAS EVEMy grandparents and their parents would open their gifts at midnight on December 24th.

THANKSGIVINGMy Great Grandparents would make a traditional American Thanksgiving meal. My grandma still uses her mothers recipes for the Turkey and Stuffing.

THE GREAT DEPRESSION

• Like most families of their generation my grandmother grew up poor.

• The children of the family had to work instead of attending high school.

• My grandma attended Catholic school until the 9th grade.

• The girls of the family would make clothing and linens out of flour sacks.

• It wasn’t until the late 40’s that my grandma made good money.

WORLD WAR 2

• During the war my grandmother worked in the electronic industry.

• She manufactured radios for the Total War Program.

• The radios she made were used in tanks, planes, and carriers.

• My Grandpa was drafted in World War 2 and fought in the Pacific Theatre.

• They both made a lot of money during and after the war, especially with the VA benefits.

FAMILY MEMORIES

• My Grandparents loved to travel

• My grandparents went to New Mexico many times to visit my Grandpas family, and my grandma loved the Green Chili.

• My Grandma loved visiting national parks and her favorite one was Mt. Rushmore.

• She also went to Canada and said it was very beautiful.

MT. RUSHMORE

THE ALAMO

MONTEREY BAY